We moved to Galway in August 2024 and have spent the last 18 months settling into our new neighbourhood, making friends, securing part-time jobs and beginning to explore what the Lord would have us do. It has been a rollercoaster ride!
The west of Ireland is known for its rugged beauty and traditional Irish culture, but most of its towns do not have a gospel-centred church. We were led to Loughrea, a historic market and commuter town located in County Galway in the west of Ireland to work alongside the believers at Calvary Church Loughrea. It has been a joy to get to know this faithful group of Christians and serve them through one-to-one mentoring, Sunday school training, Bible study groups and preaching.
What has it been like?
Pioneer ministry can be strange. It has great moments of joy, encouragement and satisfaction, coupled with times of abject frustration, disappointment and head-scratching. You might be greatly surprised by this or identify with the sentiment closely.
Several of Elise’s family members, including her paternal grandparents (who are still alive), were among the first ‘pioneers’ to the west of Canada in the early 20th century. It was a tough existence to leave everything they knew for a land unknown, and many who started the same journey didn’t make it. Shades of Abraham resonate. The Scriptures teach us that Abraham didn’t know where he was going but trusted the one taking him and Sarah there. Likewise with pioneer ministry.
Some days it’s hard to do anything, but the Holy Spirit within us convicts us to do something. To keep pressing on. To keep seeking his will, holding loosely to our own plans and understanding in the process.
Speaking at a Mothers’ Union meeting
What have been the highlights?
- Glimpses of gospel growth – our Bible study group continues to expand slowly. An average night now consists of 9-10 people. We have fed richly in the Gospel of John with plans to look at the crucifixion in John 18 next.
- Partnership with churches in the UK and Ireland – we were encouraged last October when a small team from St Giles’ Derby joined us for a few days to help with our mid-term family outreach. It was such a boost to have additional gospel workers to help with everything!
The challenge of juggling family, work and ministry
Prior to moving to Galway, I was in full-time pastoral ministry so it has been a big change to be bi-vocational and find work in hotels, warehouses and supermarkets. Some of these jobs I have enjoyed – it is good to ‘work with your hands’ and it has given me a deeper appreciation of the sort of roles many people have. Ministry can be a bit of a bubble so holding down these part-time jobs helps us get out of the bubble and meet people!
Elise is splitting herself between motherhood, working in the childcare sector, studying at college and pursuing ministry opportunities at the church. She is not a superwoman and it is tiring!
A rainy St Patrick’s Day!
At the start of last summer, I applied for the retained fire brigade service in Gort. Elise and I prayed and believed it could work well alongside ministry. Anyway, after seven long months, I got news that I wasn’t successful. It was disappointing but the decision filled us with hope that the Lord has more suitable plans going forward. A friend encouraged me with the words, ‘you would have made a good fireman, but you’re a better minister’. A kind word reminding me of our real purpose for being in Galway.
This experience is typical of pioneer ministry – we do not know the best way forward. We just keep walking by faith, day by day, knowing that the Lord is good and he will provide.
Hopes for the next year
- We want to step up our outreach activities and organise some door-to-door leaflet dropping. This might be something that our partner churches can help with.
- We would love the Lord to add to our weekly Bible study contingent.
- In the longer term, we hope to see the local church expand beyond Loughrea and across the county. To this end, we are working to build relationships among the wider community.